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Release No: 106-00March 02, 2000

NDU ESTABLISHES CHINESE MILITARY AFFAIRS STUDY CENTER

The National Defense University has established the new Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs at Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C. The center is an integral part of the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS). Deputy Secretary of Defense John J. Hamre signed a directive Wednesday formally establishing the center.

Established in accordance with Section 914 of Public Law 106-65, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2000, the center will operate under the INSS charter from the Defense Secretary William S. Cohen and the memorandum of understanding with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

This new center builds on the Institute's ongoing work on China. The center will serve as a national focal point and resource center. It will provide a forum for multi-disciplinary research and analytic exchanges on the national goals and strategic posture of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the ability of the PRC to develop, field, and deploy an effective military in support of its strategic objectives.

The center will keep policymakers in the Defense Department, Congress, and other federal agencies apprised of its efforts. The center will foster an open dialogue with analysts around the world through a program of workshops, conferences, and Internet exchanges.

NDU President Army Lt. Gen. Richard A. Chilcoat selected Dr. Ronald Montaperto, a distinguished China scholar and head of the INSS Asia Research Team, to serve as interim director of the center while a national search for a director is undertaken. Chilcoat has asked NDU Vice President Ambassador Daniel H. Simpson to lead the search for a permanent director.

INSS provides a venue to study defense policy, conduct research, perform inter-agency simulations and gaming, and advance military and civilian education. It's comprised of a research directorate, war gaming and simulation center, publications directorate and conference directorate. INSS will take steps to augment the capabilities of its research staff to develop the center's scholarly and outreach work on China.

NDU is the country's premier center for joint professional military education. Since 1976, NDU has broadened its focus from preparing future military leaders for high-level policy, command and staff responsibilities to include civilian education, reserve component education, information warfare, and hemispheric defense studies. The university has campuses on Fort McNair in Washington, D.C., and Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, Va.

For more information, contact Alicia Garges, NDU public affairs, at (202) 685-3938.